Scripture Verse

Even to your old age and gray hair I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

Introduction

portrait
Robert Anderson
(1841–1918)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: Ro­bert An­der­son, The Bud­dha of Chris­ten­dom (Lon­don: Hodd­er & Stough­ton, 1899), pag­es 312–13. An­der­son wrote these words as an al­ter­na­tive to Fan­ny Cros­by’s Safe in the Arms of Je­sus.

Music: Da­ni­el B. Town­er, 1912, in Songs of the Great Sal­va­tion, by Will­iam M. Run­yan & Daniel Tow­ner (Wi­chi­ta, Kan­sas: Run­yan Mu­sic Pub­lish­ing, cir­ca 1919) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Daniel Towner (1850–1919)

Lyrics

Safe in Je­ho­vah’s keep­ing,
Led by His glo­ri­ous arm,
God is Him­self my re­fuge,
A pre­sent help from harm.
Fears may at times dis­tress me,
Griefs may my soul an­noy;
God is my strength and por­tion,
God my ex­ceed­ing joy.

Refrain

Safe in Je­ho­vah’s keep­ing,
Led by His glo­ri­ous arm,
God is Him­self my re­fuge,
A pre­sent help from harm.

Safe in Je­ho­vah’s keep­ing,
Safe in temp­ta­tion’s hour,
Safe in the midst of per­ils,
Kept by al­migh­ty pow­er.
Safe when the tem­pest rag­es,
Safe though the night be long;
E’en when my sky is dark­est
God is my strength and song.

Refrain

Sure is Je­ho­vah’s pro­mise,
Naught can my hope as­sail;
Here is my soul’s sure an­chor,
Entered with­in the veil.
Blest in His love eter­nal,
What can I want be­side!
Safe through the blood that cleans­eth,
Safe in the Christ that died.

Refrain